Simple Goals

[TheAccountant]

On ‎9‎/‎8‎/‎2016 at 10:35 PM, Kishi said:

You're going to find that's just the way it is with those punches. Hooks and uppers just don't come out pretty, not in the beginning.

 

1. Everything I'm saying is from a beginners standpoint, using my whole 17 hours of MMA striking. Experienced guys feel free to correct anything I'm saying..

 

2. At first, uppercuts are reactionary (like a spinning backfist). If you find yourself bent to the side for whatever reason (slipping a cross/hook/round kick to the head, or, god forbid, looking at the ground because your turned your eyes from a strike) come back with an uppercut because it's natural when returning to an upright position.  If gloves are off it's palm to the chin, so practice both palm and gloved fist versions.

 

3. For me in a gloved sparring match, honestly, upper cuts are just to present a threat while getting back to a balanced position, because after the uppercut I'm probably going to pivot off the x. I'm tall, so the level changes that give most fighters opportunities for uppercuts don't happen for me unless against most guys. I can throw combos on a bag, but I play such a distance game when sparing that I can't throw them when I'm sparring without losing my position. Because...

 

4. All healthy humans are dangerous at hook/uppercut range. Haymakers still work, plus "shredding" (spastic elbows, knees, fingers to the face, etc) and grappling/takedowns/clench fighting, all kinds of stuff that isn't in traditional boxing. Don't stay there if your a beginner. Concentrate on owning the distance. 

 

5. Also, hand strikes to the body, I think are for more experienced fighters, because beginners drop their guard to long.

 

Again, more experienced guys feel free to correct anything I said. Less experienced guys..feel free to ignore.  

[Draegon (Liam P Boyle)]

So, I got an answer on the Mendoza.  He like most authors writing about classical pugilism talks about avoiding the use of "round blows" in favor of straight jabs and crosses.  This is one of those areas where there is a distinction between pugilism (at the time it was also called boxing) and modern boxing.  While pugilism advises on how to defend against hooks and uppercuts it advises you not to use them and rely on straight blows.

[Machete]

Easy way to pattern a hook is to think of a cross from the left hand to your right side without the elbow extension (if you turn 90 degrees to your right from your fighting stance, you're a Southpaw). Same exact body mechanics, except you just lift up the upper arm and stab the forearm into the target.

 

I teach a lot of novices in boxercise-type classes, and what I'm noticing is that people tend to have punching preferences. I see folks with great uppercuts and awkward straight punches, and vice versa. If you're good with straight punches, capitalize on those (while not neglecting the other ones of course). You can literally win matches with jabs and crosses. Personally my straight punches are mediocre, and I mostly won my matches with hooks and uppercuts.

 

The right straight to the body is one of my favorite punches to teach. It is very hard to block and people rarely watch for it, and it is a very good drill to practice because you're forced to really "sit down" on your punches and dig with your foot. Starting out I would even recommend throwing half of your straights to the body.

[Draegon (Liam P Boyle)]

Straights to the body are great to surprise people but watch out for the jab to the head counter. ;-)

[The Ox King]

18 hours ago, Machete said:

Easy way to pattern a hook is to think of a cross from the left hand to your right side without the elbow extension (if you turn 90 degrees to your right from your fighting stance, you're a Southpaw). Same exact body mechanics, except you just lift up the upper arm and stab the forearm into the target.

 

I teach a lot of novices in boxercise-type classes, and what I'm noticing is that people tend to have punching preferences. I see folks with great uppercuts and awkward straight punches, and vice versa. If you're good with straight punches, capitalize on those (while not neglecting the other ones of course). You can literally win matches with jabs and crosses. Personally my straight punches are mediocre, and I mostly won my matches with hooks and uppercuts.

 

The right straight to the body is one of my favorite punches to teach. It is very hard to block and people rarely watch for it, and it is a very good drill to practice because you're forced to really "sit down" on your punches and dig with your foot. Starting out I would even recommend throwing half of your straights to the body.

This brings up an odd thing that I found. I typically practice in Orthodox. If I switch to Southpaw, my hooks and uppers become easy, but my straights then feel odd (especially my left). It feels odder than anything during Orthodox, so I just stick to Orthodox.

I do understand the importance of the uppers and hooks, though. No way I'm going to go into a match without them somewhat polished. I can feel the power behind them, but I need the speed, focus, form, and balance enhanced first.

[The Ox King]

On ‎9‎/‎12‎/‎2016 at 6:46 AM, MiddleAgeMutantNinjaPanda said:

3. For me in a gloved sparring match, honestly, upper cuts are just to present a threat while getting back to a balanced position, because after the uppercut I'm probably going to pivot off the x. I'm tall, so the level changes that give most fighters opportunities for uppercuts don't happen for me unless against most guys. I can throw combos on a bag, but I play such a distance game when sparing that I can't throw them when I'm sparring without losing my position. Because...

 

4. All healthy humans are dangerous at hook/uppercut range. Haymakers still work, plus "shredding" (spastic elbows, knees, fingers to the face, etc) and grappling/takedowns/clench fighting, all kinds of stuff that isn't in traditional boxing. Don't stay there if your a beginner. Concentrate on owning the distance. 

 

5. Also, hand strikes to the body, I think are for more experienced fighters, because beginners drop their guard to long.

 

Again, more experienced guys feel free to correct anything I said. Less experienced guys..feel free to ignore.  

#3: My trainer teaches me "elbox to [nearly] hip", so I'm ducking. Plus, my trainer is already shorter, so I'm actually going lower than a boxer typically would. Honestly, I'd love to get to the point where my upper is quick enough that I could just keep slipping them in there. I haven't really practiced actual spars much, so distance isn't a thin yet in my fighting.

 

#4: I was told to not throw haymakers unless the opponent has no chance of seeing you, because it leaves you pretty well open for a long period of time.

 

#5: I always practice with gloves or with the intention of having gloves, so hand strikes aren't (yet?) a thing.

[Machete]

19 hours ago, neomattlac said:

This brings up an odd thing that I found. I typically practice in Orthodox. If I switch to Southpaw, my hooks and uppers become easy, but my straights then feel odd (especially my left). It feels odder than anything during Orthodox, so I just stick to Orthodox.

I do understand the importance of the uppers and hooks, though. No way I'm going to go into a match without them somewhat polished. I can feel the power behind them, but I need the speed, focus, form, and balance enhanced first.

 

Yeah, I never recommend switching stances.(Unless of course your trainer says otherwise.) Many people seem to watch too many boxing movies and want to learn to switch stances because it's apparently magic or something. Or maybe [mostly] women who want to "even it out" because they probably think one of their arms is going to be more jacked than the other.

 

19 hours ago, neomattlac said:

#3: My trainer teaches me "elbox to [nearly] hip", so I'm ducking. Plus, my trainer is already shorter, so I'm actually going lower than a boxer typically would. Honestly, I'd love to get to the point where my upper is quick enough that I could just keep slipping them in there. I haven't really practiced actual spars much, so distance isn't a thin yet in my fighting.

 

#4: I was told to not throw haymakers unless the opponent has no chance of seeing you, because it leaves you pretty well open for a long period of time.

 

#5: I always practice with gloves or with the intention of having gloves, so hand strikes aren't (yet?) a thing.

 

I believe he's talking more from a self-defense point-of-view. Army Combatives teaches one to avoid being in the punching range altogether. Either be out of range, or in smothering range, because unskilled haymakers have more unpredictable results than unskilled grappling. And in a self-defense situation, if nobody wins you win. I also believe he's talking about "hand strikes" as strikes with the hand in general as opposed to elbow, knee, head, and shin strikes (not a non-gloved punch).

 

Body punches used to be a bigger deal before gloves were integrated. They actually made boxers wear gloves and fight in rounds to make fights more exciting. Punching a person on the skull gloveless doesn't really have a good risk-to-benefit ratio. I do think people become too preoccupied with headhunting that they neglect how big of a target the body is--it's much bigger than the head, and just as vulnerable, if not more. I remember many times being hit by a ball on the gut and being crumpled by the impact; I've never had anything close to that being hit on the head with a ball. Even Frank Shamrock was taken out by a body shot.

 

 

[TheAccountant]

Deleted, see next post

[TheAccountant]

 

On ‎9‎/‎13‎/‎2016 at 3:32 PM, neomattlac said:

 

I always practice with gloves or with the intention of having gloves, so hand strikes aren't (yet?) a thing.

 

On ‎9‎/‎14‎/‎2016 at 11:06 AM, Machete said:

 

I believe he's talking more from a self-defense point-of-view. Army Combatives teaches one to avoid being in the punching range altogether. Either be out of range, or in smothering range, because unskilled haymakers have more unpredictable results than unskilled grappling. And in a self-defense situation, if nobody wins you win. I also believe he's talking about "hand strikes" as strikes with the hand in general as opposed to elbow, knee, head, and shin strikes (not a non-gloved punch).

 

1. Sorry for thread hijacking with my previous post.

2. Machette is a much better advice giver than I am. Listen to him over me at anything to do with martial arts or exercise.

3. Rather than go on about my own paranoia about my limited ability to throw a trustworthy close fisted strike, I thought I would give some advice about how specifically to throw an INNEFECTIVE strike.